My I met Jamel Shabazz before I actually met him. In 2001, I remember going to an exhibition called Back in the Days. Being an immigrant, I didn't connect with the images in the way an American-born person from the 80s would, but seeing those images reminded me of visiting New York City in 89 and being awed by the fashion. It also reminded me of my favorite Spike Lee movie, Do The Right Thing. :) I didn't know it then, but I was viewing the work of one of the great photographers.
On another occasion, I was in a museum store leafing through the pages of A Time Before Crack. I was struck by the timeless images and how happy and relaxed everyone seemed...even if they weren't smiling. I wondered where they were, how their lives had turned out, and whether they knew that they had been memorialized in this book.
But it wasn't until 2009 that I met the man himself. Browsing the artwork at a gallery, he approached me and asked to shoot me one day. It was all I could do to compose myself to say yes; he couldn't have found a more willing subject. During our photoshoot, we talked a lot about his work and the books he had published, about how he selected his subjects and anecdotes about certain images in his books. During the brief time we spent together, he was able to get three different sets of people (twins, a couple and a young woman wearing 80s-inspired butterfly earrings) to pose for pictures. I hadn't even noticed the twins or the young woman's earrings.
But that's the person that Jamel Shabazz is; he'll inspire you with is creativity and his eye for a great photograph, but he also puts you quite at ease with his charm. I enjoyed my photoshoot with him, and it is one of those great experiences I'll remember.
So check out Mr. Shabazz' photography as well as his books. I hope he inspires you to be excellent.
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